Soft tissue impingement syndrome of the ankle: diagnostic efficacy of MRI and clinical results after arthroscopic treatment.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Soft-tissue impingement syndrome is now increasingly being recognized as a significant cause of chronic ankle pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced, fat-suppressed, three-dimensional (3D), fast-gradient-recalled acquisition in the steady state with radio-frequency-spoiling (CE 3D-FSPGR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to evaluate the clinical outcome of arthroscopic treatment of soft-tissue impingement associated with the ankle trauma.

METHODS:

This study reviewed 38 patients who had preoperative MRI and arthroscopic treatment of chronic ankle pain after trauma. The CE 3D-FSPGR MRI was used to evaluate the chronic ankle pain, and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Score was used to evaluate the clinical results after arthroscopic treatment.

RESULTS:

The CE 3D-FSPGR MRI showed a sensitivity of 91.9%, a specificity of 84.4%, and an accuracy of 87.5% in diagnosing synovitis and soft tissue impingement. All patients had excellent or good outcomes after arthroscopic debridement.

CONCLUSION:

The results of this study suggest that a preoperative fat-suppressed CE 3D-FSPGR MRI is highly beneficial in diagnosing synovitis and soft-tissue impingement and that arthroscopic debridement of the synovitis or soft-tissue impingement has a good clinical outcome.

• Authors: Jin Woo Lee, Jin-Suck Suh, Yong-Min Huh, Eun-Su Moon, Sung Jae Kim
• Journal: Foot & ankle international (Foot Ankle Int) Vol. 25 Issue 12 Pg. 896-902 (Dec 2004) ISSN: 1071-1007 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15680103 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Ankle Joint (pathology, surgery)
• Arthroscopy
• Debridement
• Female
• Humans
• Joint Diseases (diagnosis, surgery)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (standards)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Syndrome
• Synovitis (surgery)
• Treatment Outcome